The Official Patriots vs Steelers Post game thread

[Huckleberry1]

That isn't the same Steelers team that we're used to seeing. What's up?

Some bad drafting, some bad luck and injuries, and age is catching up with them. As Kontra said they are going to have to undergo the same kind of rebuild the Patriots have engaged in the past 4 years. They do have some good building blocks in DeCastro and Pouncey, as well as Heyward who played lights out yesterday, but they are going to have to really maximize their drafts the next few years and make good decisions with their own free agents and those available in free agency. As difficult as it would have been for them to swallow they probably should have unloaded some of their vets at the trade deadline, and they really should have taken that 3rd from NE for Sanders. If they can get anything for guys like Keisel, Clark, Taylor in the coming offseason they should take it and use the extra picks to help them rebuild. However in their condition they are going to have to do as good a job with undrafted free agents as the Patriots have to get back to contender status in the near future. Pare it down to the core they want to rebuild around, cut the excess salary and pick up as many picks as they can wherever they can. It's always been a really well run organization so they can get back to contender status but they are going to have to make some really tough decisions and many really good ones to get there.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Roethlisberger is not a part of the problem. Your aging and slow defense and issues all along the OL are. I would start with rebuilding the defensive side of the ball and beefing up in the trenches. Maybe seeing if Roethlisberger would be open to a restructure of his contract, as well. But if the Steelers get rid of Roethlisberger, they're either inept or inebriated (or both).

Depends, while I agree that getting rid of a franchise QB is generally a really stupid move because you need one to really be a contender, on the other hand he eats up a big part of their cap and they may feel that they are 3 years away from really contending again, and if so would they be better off taking a bundle for him and unloading the $$$. This is a deep draft for QB's and if they could get a high first for Roethlisberger as well as additional picks then it may be worth considering. The eagles are on record as wanting a franchise QB and they will be picking high in this draft, do you take their first plus and draft a young QB and start the rebuild that way, or do you stick with Roethlisberger and hope you can get ther rebuild done fast enough to contend with him still playing at a high level? Interesting question, i wonder what Steeler fans would think about it?

 

[Triumph]

Depending on where we are in the draft, we might be looking at Ben's replacement this year.

I think they're going to be back sooner rather than later. I believe the core of this team is something Tomlin can build around, but as another pointed out on SteelersFever, there isn't any innovative play calling or game planning on either side of the ball. LeBeau's defense hasn't been dominate, and for a defense that's supposed to be loaded with young talent, 55 points against is embarrassing.

I won't get into Todd Haley. For the love of God this guy has to go.

Haley had the right idea attacking the Pats. Beat them deep.

Brady won the game for NE because Pitts secondary looks worst than NEs a few years ago. And thats bad.

 

[Triumph]

He's going to have to be resigned after the 2014 season. While I agree that his career is not over yet, it might be more constructive to start reloading the roster now. The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging there is one and our cap right now is a mess.

Injuries have decimated the Pitt OL again.

The best way to cure cap problems is through the draft with young players and an aging vet or two with some miles left.

 

[jmt57]

Some articles from the Pittsburgh media:

Kovacevic: Steelers' disgraceful effort demands action | TribLIVE

This was disgraceful.

Embarrassing.

But it can be undone.

People roll their eyes anymore upon any mention of the Steelers Way, but not me.

Call me sappy or naïve or whatever, but I'm born and raised in the “town with the great football team.” I get it. I felt it was special even as a child in watching those four Super Bowl champs. And when success was sustained through four decades, three coaches and countless players, it became clear not just to us but to the sporting world that there really was a Steelers Way. And that it was the right way.

Part of that way, of course, is sticking by their guys. And I can respect that. It's served them brilliantly to have Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and, yes, Mike Tomlin, too, until these past couple seasons.

But the true Steelers Way, as people who have played a real part in it will attest in impassioned tones, is winning.

This team doesn't have it.

This team doesn't have the talent, the toughness or the togetherness needed to win.

It's a terrible team, embarrassing in preparation and execution and now even effort.

Effort!​

Some eerily prophetic foreshadowing in this pre-game article:
Big plays, surprising losses a toxic pattern for Steelers - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Tomlin threatens Steelers' jobs after 55-31 pasting by Patriots - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Patriots responded by outscoring them 31-7 the rest of the way, like a Ferrari toying with a Volkswagen. First came a seemingly harmless 32-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski that snapped that tie and put the Patriots back on top by three as they entered the fourth quarter.

Before they could, however, Edelman ran a punt back to the Steelers 34. Brady capitalized with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dobson early in the fourth quarter and the rout was on.

That brought Tomlin to the podium in a foul mood and for the second time in five games, he threatened the loss of jobs.

"Those people who are lacking effort won't be playing," Tomlin said. "It's just that simple. ... I am angry, disappointed."

The tape they watch today will show what everyone else already knows, that their defense just isn't the same one even from 2012 when it led the NFL in fewest total yards and passing yards allowed, as it did also in 2011. They have lost players, lost their bite and now they are losing in record manner.​

Steelers notebook: Three more starters injured vs. Patriots - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Brady’s big day

Among other things, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady tied an NFL record by leading the Patriots to a sixth 50-point game and broke another by throwing four touchdown passes without an interception for the 15th time. He also passed Warren Moon for sixth place on the NFL career completions list with 3,992 and Fran Tarkenton for seventh place on the passing yards list with 47,062. His 432 passing yards were the third-best single-game total of his Hall of Fame-caliber career.

Another slow start

The Steelers continued to start slowly and trailed the Patriots, 7-0, after the first quarter. They have been outscored, 61-19, in first quarters this season.

Patriots receivers shine

After allowing only one 100-yard performance by an opposing receiver all season, the Steelers allowed three such performances Sunday in the same game. New England’s Danny Amendola (122), Aaron Dobson (130), and Gronkowski (143) surpassed 100 yards.

QB matchup

Brady is 7-2 against the Steelers including the postseason, with 18 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

Roethlisberger is 3-5 against the Patriots including the postseason, with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Brady passed for more than 300 yards in a game for the 55th time in his career, the fifth most in NFL history. His 432 yards passing were the third most in his career.​

Collier: Steelers defense? There was quit in this dog - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This score was tied, 24-24, with 7:10 remaining in the third quarter, the Steelers having overcome deficits of 14-0 and 24-10, but what happened after that, for the consumption of a national-television audience no less, was little else but the Steelers quitting on their mission, quitting on themselves, quitting on their coaches, quitting on their organization, quitting, inescapably, on their city.

How else to do you allow 31 points on the Patriots’ final five possessions?

Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t see it the way Brady did. He knows it’s a dog when a nice lawn gets soiled.

“Those people who are lacking in effort won’t be playing,” Tomlin said. “We will look at every aspect of what we’re doing and who we’re doing it with. We can’t have performances like that. I don’t care whether 55 points is the most points we’ve ever given up or not. It’s not any more sickening or less sickening based on those results.”

“We had ’em, 24-24, and we didn’t get the job done,” said defensive end Cameron Heyward on a day when the Steelers allowed 197 rushing yards to go with Brady’s 50,000 passing yards. “I had missed a couple assignments. I messed up a couple times. But there was not one thing they did that was overly surprising.”

You might not be terribly comforted by that, but I guess it’s better than saying, “No, we weren’t fooled; we’re actually that bad.”​

Secondary a primary issue for Steelers in loss to Patriots | TribLIVE

A secondary that surrendered the fewest yards the past two seasons was torched by Brady for 432 yards and four touchdowns. The Steelers' aging secondary looked flat-footed as the defense yielded the most points in team history in a 55-31 thrashing at Gillette Stadium.

“They were making plays, and we weren't making any,” said Polamalu, who was penalized three times. “We just weren't sound. We hadn't played a game like this since I've been here.”

The Steelers' usually stingy secondary was fourth best in the NFL in allowing completions longer than 20 yards. But they surrendered seven passes of more than 20 yards to Brady's supposedly gimpy receiving corps — including tight end Rob Gronkowski and receiver Danny Amendola, who had catches for 34 (touchdown) and 57 yards.

“We gave them everything. We let them run the ball and throw it on us,” linebacker LaMarr Woodley said. “We had some missed tackles and we gave up big plays, and that started with us not putting any pressure on Brady.”

The Steelers' secondary is ranked as the league's second best. But its disjointed performance factored prominently in leaving the Steelers entrenched in the AFC North cellar at 2-6.

Brady, though, didn't beat the Steelers as much as the Steelers beat themselves. The secondary was plagued by blown coverage and uncharacteristic penalties —– including three pass interference penalties that aided two New England scoring drives.

Polamalu had a pass interference penalty with 1:05 left in the first half that positioned the Patriots at midfield after the Steelers had narrowed their deficit to 17-10. Then, cornerback William Gay missed a tackle and safety Shamarko Thomas was flagged for interference in the end zone to set up Ridley's 1-yard scoring run.

Gay was flagged for pass interference early in the fourth quarter. Ridley muscled his way into the end zone from the 5 to give New England a 41-24 lead.

However, long passing plays were even more damaging. Aaron Dobson delivered the decisive blow — an 81-yard touchdown in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

The stat sheet reveals a compelling story of the Patriots' dominance, particularly during their 31-7 run over the last quarter and a half. Three Patriots' receivers — Gronkowski (143 yards), Amendola (130) and Dobson (122) — had more than 100 yards receiving. Brady had his fifth career 400-yard passing game in passing Fran Tarkington on the all-time list for passing yards.

“When Tom's on fire, it doesn't matter who's out there,” Polamalu said.​

Ron Cook: No more to see here, this Steelers season is over - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gerry Dulac's Two-Minute Drill - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Steelers Report Card: Steelers vs. New England - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

[DaBruinz]

I don't have time to read through all the threads and haven't seen it here through a cursory look, but did anyone explain why, on 4th and 1 on the one yard line, we did not get a 1st down when the Steelers got an encroachment penalty? Does the rule really penalize you for being inside the 5 yd. line? Seems ridiculous. At the time it also seemed ridiculous that the Pats did not kick a FG there, although at the end of the day it didn't matter...

It wasn't encroachment. It was off-sides. And they are two different penalties. That being said, I don't believe EITHER actually gives an automatic 1st down.

The spotting of the ball near the endzone was horrible. That seemed to be a theme this weekend (See Chargers/Dallas).

What I didn't understand was why the Pats didn't go for a Brady sneak there. That's his bread and butter on short-yardage situations. Hell all he had to do was stand up and extend his arms and he'd have broken the plane with the ball.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I saw the postgame analysis of ex-Bronco card-carrying Pats hater Tom Jackson. He was nearly in tears and practically inconsolable as he tried to explain yesterday's Pats-Steelers game in a low, depressed voice.

He insisted that the result had nothing to do with the Patriots or with Brady, but that Pittsburgh's defense had now reached the level of being historically bad.

That doesn't jive with their 2nd-in-the-league rating against the pass coming into yesterday, but he still ran with it!

 

[Triumph]

You wanna crown dey axx? Go ahead, but we let NE off the hook.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Some articles from the Pittsburgh media:...]

Loved this bit from MMQB/King:

...Mike Tomlin, asked after the latest debacle if he was perplexed: “I am angry. Disappointed. You know, we don’t have time for perplexed.”

Pretty good line all things considered.

 

[chasa]

Loved this bit from MMQB/King:




Pretty good line all things considered.

that cant be a real quote, he didn't say "obvious" even once

 

[Dutchmaster617]

The offensive line finally blocked, also Gronkowski is playing football instead of practicing. But the horrible line held up for once and we run and pass at will.

We have a lot of work to do, because good defenses will not allow this.

 

[SVN]

This helped
via matt chatham twitter....

dont think we will see these type of defenses again a lot

 

[DaBruinz]

I was originally surprised that the Pats signed Josh Kline to the roster. But then I did a bit of research and found out some things.

Kline played LG, RG and RT in college.
Kline was a wrestler in High School so he understand leverage.
Kline was practicing with the PS at C as well as Guard.

Kline could probably be an emergency RT in a pinch.
I think we'll see Kline be Dressed over Barker going forward.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Just a random thought: as a general rule, I assume it's generally a good thing when your punter holds the ball 10 times and only punts it twice.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Depends, while I agree that getting rid of a franchise QB is generally a really stupid move because you need one to really be a contender, on the other hand he eats up a big part of their cap and they may feel that they are 3 years away from really contending again, and if so would they be better off taking a bundle for him and unloading the $$$. This is a deep draft for QB's and if they could get a high first for Roethlisberger as well as additional picks then it may be worth considering. The eagles are on record as wanting a franchise QB and they will be picking high in this draft, do you take their first plus and draft a young QB and start the rebuild that way, or do you stick with Roethlisberger and hope you can get ther rebuild done fast enough to contend with him still playing at a high level? Interesting question, i wonder what Steeler fans would think about it?

At this point, if I were the Iggles, I'd stick with Foles rather than fork over a first for Worthlessburger.

 

[goheels22002]

This helped
via matt chatham twitter....

dont think we will see these type of defenses again a lot

This was the play where Polamalu bit like a sturgeon on Brady's look to the right and he left the middle of the field completely unprotected while Amendola headed up the seam. Brady, seeing Polamalu take off, wheeled to the left and threw a strike for the TD. Polamalu ought to change his first name to "Toast."

 

[lillloyd]

This helped
via matt chatham twitter....

dont think we will see these type of defenses again a lot

By far one of the most distressing things about the game as a Steelers fan was the disastrous missed assignments between *veteran* defenders in the secondary. The two plays by Amendola were horrendous on our part.

Clark has already been losing snaps to Shamarko Thomas; it's hard to imagine him being back next year. Polamalu's status will depend on the contract he demands.

 

[Kontradiction]

Depends, while I agree that getting rid of a franchise QB is generally a really stupid move because you need one to really be a contender, on the other hand he eats up a big part of their cap and they may feel that they are 3 years away from really contending again, and if so would they be better off taking a bundle for him and unloading the $$$. This is a deep draft for QB's and if they could get a high first for Roethlisberger as well as additional picks then it may be worth considering. The eagles are on record as wanting a franchise QB and they will be picking high in this draft, do you take their first plus and draft a young QB and start the rebuild that way, or do you stick with Roethlisberger and hope you can get ther rebuild done fast enough to contend with him still playing at a high level? Interesting question, i wonder what Steeler fans would think about it?

They can part ways with Woodley, Polamalu, Clark, and Taylor in the offseason and free up a significant portion of cap room. Not to mention they can also ask Ben to restructure his contract.

 

[Banjo]

I like Tom Brady when he plays like the GOAT. This is who he is and how he should play. This gives me hope... Super Bowl here we come!!

 

[Raymond]

As much as Gronk's return has really seemed to boost the offense, I think we should be saving him for the playoffs. He might get injured if he plays.